§ 47. Captain Gunstonasked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence whether, in view of the importance in the interests of defence of encouraging the widest possible use of home-produced fuels for motor transport, it is proposed to take any action to encourage developments designed to secure the use of fuels such as compressed gas or producer gas as alternatives to imported oil?
§ Sir T. InskipIt is the policy of the Government to encourage the use in this country of home-produced fuels and several steps have been taken to this end. In the case of vehicles using compressed gas and producer gas, there is no duty payable on the fuel, and for the heavier types of vehicles there is a further advantage that the rate of vehicle duty is lower than for vehicles using petrol or diesel oil. The question whether any further action might be taken which would enable a wider use to be made of such vehicles during an emergency is at present under examination.